By the time Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey ended an emotion-filled closing argument during which he twice needed to regain his composure, the courtroom of public opinion had already rendered its verdict.
The lengthy standing ovation that followed – the highlight of Monday’s special call meeting in a jam-packed City Council chamber – merely punctuated the moment, making sure everyone on the dais knew what was expected.
And the council members gave the public what it wanted, throwing out what the audience decided was a frivolous and politically motivated prosecution, and delivered to its embattled police chief a resounding vote of confidence.
In a series of unanimously approved motions, the council backed its chief and his department, endorsed the handling of the matter by City Manager Monte Falls, and terminated any further investigation of the still-unsubstantiated allegations pushed by two local businessmen.
“I think we have heard from our community,” Mayor John Cotugno said of the meeting, at which supporters of both Currey and Falls filled the room.
Among those who spoke on Currey’s behalf were former City Council members Tony Young, Joe Graves, Ken Daige, Brian Heady and Laura Moss, now a county commissioner.
Other speakers included retired city managers Jim O’Connor and Jim Gabbard, who also served as police chief; Deputy Chief Matt Monaco and Lieutenant Matt Harrelson; Assistant State Attorney Bill Long, who heads the agency’s Indian River County office and represented State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl; and former county commissioner Tom Lowther.
Long praised Currey’s department, saying, “There’s not an agency I’d rather work with than the Vero Beach Police Department.”
Lowther, a candidate in more local races here than anyone currently holding office, downplayed the complaints against Currey, saying, “This is Politics 101.”
Also in the overwhelmingly pro-Currey audience were Sebastian Police Chief Daniel Acosta, Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry and Stuart Police Chief Joseph Tumminelli; County Judge Nicole Menz; and local business leaders Joe Conrado, owner of multiple McDonald’s restaurants in the Vero Beach area, and Jeff Palleschi, owner of 21st Amendment Distillery.
In addition, family members of local murder victims Brian Simpson and Diana Duve attended the meeting, along with Elaine Coppola, whose son Nick was killed when the bicycle he was riding was struck by a drunk driver on the 17th Street Bridge in 2014.
Heady, who was once removed from this same chamber by Currey’s officers during a council meeting, described the allegations made against the chief as an “outrage” and “BS from the very beginning,” adding, “Mr. Currey, I’m sorry you’re going through this. You don’t deserve this.”
Graves went a step further, saying Currey and Falls deserve an apology from their accusers.
That’s unlikely to happen, however.
The complaints against Currey were launched by Lanse Padgett, a Central Beach resident who owns Gorilla Ammunition in Sebastian, and Tom Corr, a celebrated local philanthropist who lives at John’s Island and is president of the wildly successful, Vero Beach-based George E. Warren Corporation.
For the past eight months, they’ve been trying to convince city officials that Vero Beach needs a new police chief, alleging that Currey is unfit for the job.
They claim the department under Currey’s administration closes cases that demand further investigation, deflects and dodges any questioning of its performance and practices, and has created an intolerant work environment in which employees are afraid to speak openly about agency matters.
A former state prosecutor, Padgett said not removing Currey places the public’s safety in jeopardy.
Yet, Padgett, who sat through Monday’s meeting, did not go to the podium and voice his concerns. Instead, he discussed them afterward, during an interview with several news reporters on the sidewalk in front of City Hall.
“The things that they were saying are so far from the truth … I honestly don’t know if I would be able to contain myself in a professional manner,” Padgett replied when asked why he didn’t address the council.
Padgett said he has spoken to about 20 officers who are concerned about their work environment but fear retaliation if they speak out. He said some of those officers reached out to him.
“I’ll regroup and talk to them, and say, ‘What do you want me to do? Do you want to continue this? Do you want to stand up for yourselves? If so, do you want me to help you?’”
Padgett said.
For now, at least, Currey’s job appears safe.
Meanwhile, Falls said that he plans to resume his focus on the major projects the city has undertaken.
“Since I have not received any information that shows anything illegal, immoral or unethical – nor have I received anything that would result in disciplinary action, much less termination, or any statements that I have repeatedly been told I would receive – we will no longer be dedicating resources to this issue,” Falls said at the meeting. “It is time to move on.”
Both the council and the audience agreed.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
